The answer is: 70000

2 Sam 24:15 - David had numbered the Israelites and angered God

In 2 Samuel 24, King David makes a fateful decision to conduct a census of Israel, seemingly out of pride and perhaps a desire to quantify his military might. This act, viewed as defiance against God, triggers significant repercussions. In response to David’s actions, God sends a plague that claims the lives of 70,000 people. This incident offers a vivid lesson about responsibility and the heavy weight of leadership.

What’s fascinating is how closely this narrative parallels stories from earlier texts, such as Moses’ census in the book of Numbers, which was sanctioned because it obeyed God’s command. Here, David’s number-crunching motives were distinctly different, showcasing that intent matters significantly in the larger biblical narrative. It raises intriguing discussions about how spiritual leaders are judged by their decisions.

Moreover, this insistence on communal responsibility is echoed throughout many stories in the Bible where one person's sin has broader societal ramifications. Think of Achan in Joshua 7; his sin had dire consequences for Israel during their conquest of Jericho.

David’s remorse sets the stage for a deeper understanding of repentance. After realizing the grave outcomes of his choices, he seeks God’s mercy, eventually leading him to buy the threshing floor of Araunah to stop the plague, showing that genuine repentance often involves taking tangible steps to rectify wrongs. It creates a thread of hope and transformation, grounding the narrative in divine forgiveness and mercy.